Natural light – Natural light to fill the terminals, allowing trees and lawn to grow -- and giving passengers more to look at than retail franchises.

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New London airport proposed for island in middle of Thames4 photos

Heathrow terminal? – Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, is already running at almost full capacity. It would close if London Britannia Airport went ahead, the consortium behind the proposal says.

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Story highlights

Airport would sit on artificial Thames island

Estimated $76 billion project is forecast to take seven years

Transparent hubs filled with trees would form passenger terminals

Heathrow "to close" if project realized

Many visitors to London will be used to flying over the Thames before they land.

Within less than 10 years, they could be touching down at an island airport in the middle of the river itself.

A futuristic-looking, six-runway airport on an artificial island has been proposed at a location off the Isle of Sheppey, around 80 kilometers from the center of the city.

The plan from a consortium formed by the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has been projected to cost £47 billion ($76 billion) and to take seven years.

With Heathrow running at 99% capacity, the capital needs more runways, the consortium, Testrad, says.

The mid-river location is intended to avoid adding to the aviation noise pollution already bedeviling London -- the source of long-running campaigns from residents beneath that approach into Heathrow that passengers so enjoy.